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President of Armenia awards Russian citizens in Moscow

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan handed in Armenian state awards to a group of Russian citizens at the Armenian embassy in Moscow on Tuesday

MOSCOW, October 25 (Itar-Tass) — President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan handed in Armenian state awards to a group of Russian citizens at the Armenian embassy in Moscow on Tuesday. The Armenian president is on a visit to Moscow at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev.

The Armenian awards were given to ballet choreographer, People's artist of the Soviet Union Yuri Grigorovich awarded for great contribution to the development of culture and new production of the world famous ballet Spartak staged at the Armenian Opera and Ballet theater named after Alexander Spendiarov; to President of the Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin whom Armenia awarded for great contribution to the development of cooperation between Armenia and Russia in the field of the economy.

Armenia awarded honorary state medals to aide of the Russian president and Co- chairperson of the Council for humanitarian cooperation of the CIS countries Dzhahan Pollyeva for contribution to the development of contacts between Russia and Armenia in culture and education and development of cultural cooperation in the framework of the CIS.

Tatyana Anodina, Chairperson of the Interstate Aviation Committee, was awarded an Armenian medal for the development of civil aviation in Armenia. Another Russian laureate awarded a medal of similar distinction is Yuri Semyonov awarded for his contribution to liquidation of after-effects of a catastrophic earthquake in Armenia in 1988.

Armenia also awarded state medals to People's Artist of Russia, Lenin Prize winner Friedrich Sogoyan and film producer Ruben Dishdishyan in connection with the 20th anniversary of Armenian independence and for their contribution to preservation of the Armenian cultural identity and promotion of Armenia's friendship with foreign countries.

The Armenian president thanked all the laureates and praised them for their contribution to the development of Russo-Armenian relations.

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